Alarm apparatus for cabinets and the like

ABSTRACT

An alarm housing having a base wall is pivotally interconnected by hinge means to a mounting plate. When the base wall is disposed substantially parallel to the mounting plate it defines an alarm ready position. Mounted within the alarm housing are an alarm buzzer, a plunger assembly including a plunger disposed to project through the bass wall, spring means urging the plunger outwardly of the housing and into engagement with the mounting plate when the base wall is in the alarm ready position, and a primary switch assembly including primary switch closing means for energizing the alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by the plunger assembly upon outward movement of the plunger when the base wall is swung out of the alarm ready position away from the mounting plate.

United States Patent [1 1 Gopperton ALARM APPARATUS FOR CABINETS AND THE LIKE [75] Inventor: Ardath A. Gopperton, Mount Prospect, 111.

-[73] Assignee: The Paymaster Corporation,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: May 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 360,396

[52] US. Cl 340/274, 200/6193, 340/282 [51] Int. Cl. G08b 13/06 [58] Field of Search 340/282, 274, 276; 200/6193, 61.61, 61.62, 61.76, 42 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,733 12/1959 Hirsch 340/274 3,165,727 1/1965 Callahan 340/274 3,270,333 8/1966 Barber 340/274 51 Oct. 15,1974

Primary Examiner-Glen R. Swann, lll Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnson, Dienner, Emrich, Verbeck and Wagner [5 7 ABSTRACT An alarm housing having a base wall is pivotally interconnected by hinge means to a mounting plate. When the base wall is disposed substantially parallel to the mounting plate it defines an alarm ready position. Mounted within the alarm housing are an alarm buzzer, a plunger assembly including a plunger disposed to project through the bass wall, spring means urging the plunger outwardly of the housing and into engagement with the mounting plate when the base wall is in the alarm ready position, and a primary switch assembly including primary switch closing means for energizing the alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by the plunger assembly upon outward movement of the plunger when the base wall is swung out of the alarm ready position away from the mounting plate.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBUU 1 I974 SHEET 2 OF 4 ALARM APPARATUS FOR CABINETS AND THE l LIKE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an alarm apparatus, and more specifically, to an alarm apparatus adapted to be connected to cabinets and the like for issuing a warning alarm upon any tampering with the locks thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The alarm apparatus of the present invention comprises a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a cabinet,and an alarm housing pivotally interconnected to the mounting plate and having an arm member or extension thereof adapted to overlie the lock of the cabinet. An alarm ready position is defined when the base wall of the housing is disposed substantially parallel to the mounting plate with the housing arm member or extension thereof closely-overlying the lock. Within the alarm housing are mounted an alarm buzzer, a plunger assembly, and a primary switch assembly. The plunger assembly includes a plunger which is spring biased outwardly of the housing and into engagement with the mounting plate when the base wall is in the alarm ready position. The primary switch assembly includes primary switch closing means for energizing the alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by the plunger assembly. In order to gain access to the cabinet lock, the alarm housing must be first pivoted away from the mounting plate and the lock. Upon outward movement of the plunger when the base wall is thus swung out of the alarm ready position, the alarm buzzer is actuated and a warning is thereby issued.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a tile drawer cabinet and of the alarm apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the alarm apparatus and cabinet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the alarm apparatus and cabinet of FIG. 1; a

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the alarm apparatus of the present invention, taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a median sectional view of the primary switch means of the alarm apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrical operating components of the alarm apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a portion of a cabinet with sliding doors and of the alarm apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the alarm apparatus shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of the alarm apparatus shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 an alarm apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention.

As shown in'FIGS. l-3, the alarm apparatus 10 is associated with a tile drawer cabinet 12 comprised of a main frame 14 and at least one drawer 16. The cabinet 12 is provided with a conventional lock 18 having a plunger-type lock cylinder 20, wherein the lock 18 is locked by depressing the cylinder 20 and unlocked by a key 22.

The alarm apparatus 10 comprises a mounting plate 24, a generally enclosed box-shaped housing 26, and hinge means 28 pivotally interconnecting one edge of the housing 26 with one edge of the mounting plate 24. The mounting plate 24 is formed with perimetric rim flange portions 30, and is adapted to be secured to the front face of the drawer 16 by means bolts 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 26 has a base wall 34 with an opening 36 formed therein, and has secured at its side a lateral arm member 38. Mounted within the housing 26 are a primary switch assembly 40, a plunger assembly 42, a secondary switch assembly 44, and, as shown in FIG. 1, an alarm buzzer 46, and a battery unit 48.

The primary switch assembly 40, as shown in FIG. 5, comprises a switch actuating plunger 50 slidably mounted in an opening 52 formed through the center of an insulating housing 54. The actuating plunger 50 has an upper tubular insulating element 56 and a lower tubular conducting element 58 which are arranged in end-to-end relationship separated by a small space to define detent 60. A stop washer 62 at the lower end of the conducting element 58 limits axial travel of the plunger 50 in one direction. Similarly, an enlarged head portion 64 is provided on the upper end of the insulating element 56 and engages the annular shoulder 66 formed by the enlarged diameter portion of the opening 52 whereby to limit axial travel of the plunger 50 in the other direction. Provided in a passage 68 crosswise to opening 52 are a pair of switch contacts 70 and 72 each in the form of a ball 74 and a spring 76 which is secured to an adjustable screw 78. Electrical leads 80 are connected to the two screws 78. When the actuating plunger 50 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, the switch assembly 40 is in the position since the balls 74 are separated by an insulating material.

The plunger assembly 42, as shown in FIG. 4, comprises a rocker lever 82 pivotally mounted at its intermediate portion on a pin 84. Secured to one arm of the rocker lever 82 on one side thereof is a sensing plunger 86 which projects through the opening 36 in the base wall 34. A spring 88, extending between the other side of the one arm of the lever 82 and a bracket 90, urges the sensing plunger 86 outwardly of the housing 26. The other arm of the lever 82 is arranged to engage the switch actuating plunger 50 for closing the primary switch assembly 40.

The secondary switch assembly 44 comprises a first electrical contact 92 mounted on the one end of the rocker lever 82 in opposed relation to the sensing plunger 86, and a second electrical contact 94 mounted on the bracket and disposed to be contacted by the first electrical contact 92. The electrical circuit of the switch assemblies 40 and 44, buzzer 46 and battery unit 48 is shown in FIG. 6.

As shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4, the alarm apparatus 10 also comprises means 96 for selectively deactivating the primary switch assembly 40. The deactivating means 96 includes a lock device 98 having a lock cylinder 100 mounted through a side wall of the housing 26 adjacent the switch assembly 40. Mounted on the inner end of the lock cylinder 100 is a lock arm 102. Turning of the lock cylinder 100 by its key 104 effects rotation of the lock arm 102 between two angular orientations 90 degrees apart. Referring to FIG. 4, when the lock arm 102 is in the dotted-line position the alarm apparatus 10 is in an alarm-on condition, and when the lock arm 102 is in the solid-line position the alarm apparatus 10 is in an alarm-off condition.

The base wall 34 of the housing 26, when disposed substantially parallel to the mounting plate 24 as shown in FIG. 4, defines an alarm ready position. In this connection, a latch member 106, which is suitably secured to the mounting plate 24, is adapted to extend through the opening 36 in the base wall 34 whereby to releasably latch the housing 26 to the mounting plate 24 with the base wall 34 disposed in the alarm ready position. Also, resilient means, in the form of rubber feet 108, are secured to the base wall 34 and are engageable with the mounting plate 24 to yieldably space the base wall 34 from the mounting plate 24 in the alarm ready position. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. l-3, when the alarm apparatus 10 is associated with the file drawer cabinet 12, an extension bracket 110 and a primary block 112 are secured to the housing arm member 38, while adaptor blocks 114 are secured to the free end of the bracket 110.

Operationally, when the tile drawer cabinet 12 is to be secured, the cabinet lock 18 is first locked andthen the alarm housing 26 is swung to and latched in the solid-line position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. With the base wall 34 disposed in the alarm ready position, the extension bracket 110 and adaptor blocks 114 are disposed to closely overlie the cabinet lock 18, and the sensing plunger 86 is biased into engagement with the mounting plate 24. The alarm apparatus lock cylinder 100 is then turned with the key 104 and the lock arm 102 is rotated from the solid-line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4, establishing an alarm-on condition.

Thereafter, if the alarm housing 26 is swung away from the mounting plate 24 in order that access may be gained to the cabinet lock 18, the sensing plunger 86 is moved in a direction outwardly of the housing 26 from the position shown in FIG. 4 under the biasing force of the spring 88, the rocker lever 82 is thereby pivoted clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4, and the switch actuating plunger 50 is moved axially in the direction of the lock device 98 from the position shown in FIG. by the rocker lever 82. This movement of the plunger 50 brings the conducting element 58 into frictional engagement with the pair of balls 74 whereby the primary switch assembly 40 is closed. Upon this occurrence, the circuit between the battery unit 48 and the alarm buzzer 46 is closed to energize the warning alarm system.

Correspondingly, if during tampering with the alarm apparatus the alarm housing 26 is pressed inwardly toward the mounting plate 24, the sensing plunger 86 is moved in a direction inwardly of the housing 26 from the position shown in FIG. 4, the adjacent end of the rocker lever 82 is flexed, and the first electrical contact 92 is engaged with the second electrical contact 94 whereupon the secondary switch assembly 44 is closed. Upon this occurrence, the circuit between the battery unit 48 and the alarm buzzer 46 is closed to energize the warning alarm system.

When the file drawer cabinet 12 is to be unsecured, the alarm apparatus lock cylinder is first turned with the key 104 and the lock arm 102 is rotated from the dotted-line position to the solid-line position shown in FIG. 4. In the latter position, the outer end of the lock arm 102 engages the upper end of the switch actuating plunger 50, maintains the plunger 50 in its open switch position, and prevents actuation of the plunger 50 by the rocker lever 82, establishing an alarm-off condition. Then the alarm housing 26 is swung to the solid-line position shown in FIG. 3, whereupon the cabinet lock 18 is exposed for operation.

If desired, means responsive to the lock device 98 may also be provided for deactivating the secondary switch assembly 44. Suitable deactivating means for this purpose is disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 291,777, filed Sept. 25, 1972, entitled Alarm Apparatus for Office Equipment, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference herein.

As disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, the protected lock 18 is mounted in the main frame 14 of the file drawer cabinet 12. The alarm apparatus 10 may also be used in as sociation with a lock mounted in a drawer, or in a door, or in a handle therefor. In these applications, the mounting plate 24 is secured to the face of the drawer or door in a manner corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 1-3. If the drawer or door has a flush-type lock, generally the housing arm member 38 and primary block 112 can be arranged to directly overlie the lock when the housing base wall 34 is in an alarm ready position, obviating the use of the extension bracket and adaptor blocks 114. However, such adaptor means, or variations thereof, may be conveniently used as required to adapt the alarm apparatus 10 to different types of drawer or door locks.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, the alarm apparatus 10 is shown in association with a cabinet or display case 1 16 comprised of a main frame 118 and a pair of sliding doors or panels 120 and 122 which are adapted to be secured in closed position by a conventional locking unit 124. The locking unit 124 includes a strap member 126 and a key operated lock device 128.

The mounting plate 24 of the alarm apparatus 10 is provided with studs 130 which are detachably received in key-hole slots 132 formed in an L-shaped mounting bracket 134 secured by screws 136 to the main frame 118. With this mounting arrangement, the alarm apparatus l0, and the obstruction offered thereby, may be conveniently removed from the cabinet 116 when a warning alarm is not desired. The alarm apparatus 10 may be attached to or detached from the mounting bracket 134 by swinging the housing 26 away from the mounting plate 24 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9 and sliding the mounting plate 24 sidewise relative to the mounting bracket 134.

The lateral arm member 38 of the housing 26 has secured thereto an extension block 138 formed with a recessed end 140 that fits over the lock device 128 when the housing base wall 34 is in an alarm ready position. This interfit of the recessed end 140 and lock device 128 prevents the alarm apparatus 10 from being removed from the cabinet 116 without sounding a warning alarm when the apparatus 10 is in an alarm-on condition.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. An alarm apparatus comprising a mounting plate, a generally enclosed housing having a base wall with an opening therein, hinge means pivotally interconnecting one edge of said base wall with one edge of said mounting plate, said base wall when disposed substantially parallel to said mounting plate defining an alarm ready position, a primary switch assembly and an alarm buzzer within said housing, a plunger assembly within said housing and including a plunger disposed to project through said base wall opening and a rocker lever pivotally mounted at its intermediate portion within said housing, said plunger extending away from one arm of said rocker lever, spring means urging said plunger outwardly of said housing and into engagement with said mounting plate when said base wall is in said alarm ready position, and said primary switch assembly including primary switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by the other arm of said rocker lever upon outward movement of said plunger when said base wall is swung out of said alarm ready position away from said mounting plate.

2. An alarm apparatus comprising a mounting plate, a generally enclosed housing having a wall with an opening therein, hinge means pivotally interconnecting one end of said base wall with one edge of said mounting plate, said base wall when disposed substantially parallel to said mounting plate defining an alarm ready position, a primary switch assembly and an alarm buzzer within said housing, a plunger assembly within said housing and including a plunger disposed to project through said base wall opening, spring means urging said plunger outwardly of said housing and into engagement with said mounting plate when said base wall is in said alarm ready position, said primary switch assembly including primary switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by said plunger assembly upon outward movement of said plunger when said base wall is swung out of said alarm ready position away from said mounting plate, a secondary switch assembly within said housing, and said secondary switch assembly including secondary switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by said plunger assembly upon inward movement of said plunger when said base wall is swung out of said alarm ready position toward said mounting plate.

3. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising latch means carried by said mounting plate and engageable with said housing whereby the latter may be releasably latched to the former with said base wall disposed in said alarm ready position.

4. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising resilient means secured to said base wall and being engageable with said mounting plate to yield ably space said base wall from said mounting plate in said alarm ready position.

5. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for selectively deactivating at least said primary switch assembly.

6. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said deactivating means includes a lock device having a lock cylinder mounted through a side wall of said housing and disposed adjacent said primary switch closing means, a lock arm mounted on the inner end of said lock cylinder and rotatable between two angular orientations with said lock arm engaging said primary switch closing means in one of said two angular orientations in a manner to prevent the actuation of said primary switch closing means.

7. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said plunger assembly includes a rocker lever pivotally mounted at its intermediate portion within said housing, said plunger extends away from one arm of said rocker lever, and said primary switch closing means is disposed to be actuated by the other arm of said rocker lever upon said outward movement of said plunger; and wherein said secondary switch closing means includes a first electrical contact mounted on said one arm of said rocker lever, and a second electrical contact disposed to be contacted by said first electrical contact upon said inward movement of said plunger. 

1. An alarm apparatus comprising a mounting plate, a generally enclosed housing having a base wall with an opening therein, hinge means pivotally interconnecting one edge of said base wall with one edge of said mounting plate, said base wall when disposed substantially parallel to said mounting plate defining an alarm ready position, a primary switch assembly and an alarm buzzer within said housing, a plunger assembly within said housing and including a plunger disposed to project through said base wall opening and a rocker lever pivotally mounted at its intermediate portion within said housing, said plunger extending away from one arm of said rocker lever, spring means urging said plunger outwardly of said housing and into engagement with said mounting plate when said base wall is in said alarm ready position, and said primary switch assembly including primary switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by the other arm of said rocker lever upon outward movement of said plunger when said base wall is swung out of said alarm ready position away from said mounting plate.
 2. An alarm apparatus comprising a mounting plate, a generally enclosed housing having a wall with an opening therein, hinge means pivotally interconnecting one end of said base wall with one edge of said mounting plate, said base wall when disposed substantially parallel to said mountIng plate defining an alarm ready position, a primary switch assembly and an alarm buzzer within said housing, a plunger assembly within said housing and including a plunger disposed to project through said base wall opening, spring means urging said plunger outwardly of said housing and into engagement with said mounting plate when said base wall is in said alarm ready position, said primary switch assembly including primary switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by said plunger assembly upon outward movement of said plunger when said base wall is swung out of said alarm ready position away from said mounting plate, a secondary switch assembly within said housing, and said secondary switch assembly including secondary switch closing means for energizing said alarm buzzer disposed to be actuated by said plunger assembly upon inward movement of said plunger when said base wall is swung out of said alarm ready position toward said mounting plate.
 3. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising latch means carried by said mounting plate and engageable with said housing whereby the latter may be releasably latched to the former with said base wall disposed in said alarm ready position.
 4. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising resilient means secured to said base wall and being engageable with said mounting plate to yieldably space said base wall from said mounting plate in said alarm ready position.
 5. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising means for selectively deactivating at least said primary switch assembly.
 6. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said deactivating means includes a lock device having a lock cylinder mounted through a side wall of said housing and disposed adjacent said primary switch closing means, a lock arm mounted on the inner end of said lock cylinder and rotatable between two angular orientations with said lock arm engaging said primary switch closing means in one of said two angular orientations in a manner to prevent the actuation of said primary switch closing means.
 7. An alarm apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said plunger assembly includes a rocker lever pivotally mounted at its intermediate portion within said housing, said plunger extends away from one arm of said rocker lever, and said primary switch closing means is disposed to be actuated by the other arm of said rocker lever upon said outward movement of said plunger; and wherein said secondary switch closing means includes a first electrical contact mounted on said one arm of said rocker lever, and a second electrical contact disposed to be contacted by said first electrical contact upon said inward movement of said plunger. 